Chip-based gaming
Chip-Based Gaming includes methods for playing electronic games of chance or skill that provide players with a greater number of options and greater wagering flexibility than previous methods have afforded them. In the present Chip-Based gaming model, players may select virtual betting chips from an onscreen palette and apply those chips to various wagering opportunities throughout a game. Using this model, players are able to make individual bets on each of a slot machine's paylines or wager on making specific hands in Video Poker. Players are also able to buy and/or wager on symbol “nudges” and to buy symbol “re-spins” within a multi-line slot machine, options which provide the player with a much richer, more flexible gaming experience than he or she had heretofore enjoyed.
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This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/409,722, filed Apr. 24, 2006, which application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional Application No. 60/758,509, filed Jan. 11, 2006, which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present inventions relate generally to the field of regulated pay computer-controlled games, either games of skills or games of chance.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Information
Existing models for betting within electronic games of chance such as video poker or multi-line slot machines are limited, as players are conventionally only offered high-level bets that apply across a number of potential onscreen events in each game. This betting model applies to multi-line slot machines, in that players are conventionally able to manipulate their bet sizes globally, across a number of pay lines, but are unable to assign specific bet sizes to each payline or to selected individual pay lines. This conventional betting model also applies to most video poker machines, in that players are able to manipulate their bet sizes across a number of potential reward-generating hands, but are not able to assign specific bets to specific hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention that incorporate the present Chip-Based Gaming model give players a greater number of choices and a greater degree of flexibility than do conventional betting models. According to embodiments of the present invention, games, gaming methods and gaming machines that incorporate the present Chip-Based Gaming Model may advantageously include a “Chip Palette,” which may be displayed as an onscreen menu that allows players to select betting chips of varying denomination and then apply those bets to a variety of selected onscreen features.
Using the present Chip Palette, a slot machine player may assign separate bets to each individual payline or to more than one individual payline on a multi-line slot machine, an innovation that allows players to pick which pay lines they play and to weigh their payline bets differently. Since some multi-line slot machines have over one hundred pay lines, this feature empowers players to radically tailor their gaming experience. Moreover, using the present Chip Palette, a multi-line slot machine player may not only decide when he or she wants to “re-spin” a symbol, he or she may also decide how much to bet that the re-spin will result in a winning payline. Players of games of chance incorporating embodiments of the present invention may also purchase a Hold-Down chip or a Nudge chip to further affect game play. The player may also use the “Buy Symbols to Replace Those You Don't Like” feature. This feature allows the player to further wager on nearly-winning pay lines by buying an opportunity to replace an unwanted symbol with a new symbol that may make the previously nearly winning payline into a winning one.
Using the present Chip Palette, a video poker player may place an extra wager on various reward generating hands, such as a full house or three of a kind, thereby increasing his award if he is dealt the hand on which he wagered. The present Chip Palette may also be advantageously used in other games of chance, as will be evident from the description below.
According to an embodiment thereof, the present invention is a method of enabling a player to play a regulated gaming machine configured as a regulated video poker game, the regulated gaming machine including a player activated pointing device, the method comprising the steps of displaying a video poker pay table that includes a plurality of poker hands on which the player may place a bet; displaying a plurality of betting chips; selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a first betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips; placing the selected first betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a first selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table; selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a second betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips; placing the selected second betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a second selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table, the second selected poker hand being different from the first selected poker hand; randomly dealing a plurality of cards; displaying at least one of the dealt plurality of cards face up, and rewarding the player according to the selected first betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the first selected poker hand and rewarding the player according to the selected second betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the second selected poker hand.
The second displaying step may be carried out with the betting chips being of different denominations, the first selecting step may be carried out with the first betting chip being of a first denomination and the second selecting step may be carried out with the second betting chip being of a second denomination that is different from the first denomination. The second displaying step may be carried out with the betting chips including at least one of a hold-down chip configured to enable the player to hold down a card on which the hold-down chip is placed such that the held-down card may be unaffected by a re-deal of one or more of the plurality of face up cards; a re-deal chip configured to enable the player to randomly re-deal a card on which the re-deal chip is placed, and the method may further include steps of placing, using the player activated pointing device, one of the hold-down chip and the re-deal chip on a selected one of the displayed faced up cards and carrying out a re-dealing step to one of re-deal all but the card on which the hold-down chip has been placed, and re-deal only the card on which the re-deal chip has been placed. The method may also include a step of grouping the displayed plurality of betting chips together by denomination to form a chip palette. The method may also include a step of dynamically configuring the palette of betting chips according to a state of game play.
According to another embodiment thereof, the present invention is a method of enabling a player to play a regulated gaming machine configured as a regulated video poker game, the regulated gaming machine including a player activated pointing device, the method comprising the steps of displaying a video poker pay table that includes a plurality of poker hands on which the player may place a bet; displaying a plurality of betting chips; selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips; placing the selected betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a player-selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table before any cards are dealt; randomly dealing a plurality of cards; displaying at least one of the dealt plurality of cards face up; enabling the player to at least one of place additional bets and request a re-deal of at least one of the displayed face up cards according to a version of poker with which the regulated gaming machine may be configured, and rewarding the player according to the selected betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the player-selected poker hand.
The second displaying step may be carried out with the betting chips including at least one of a hold-down chip configured to enable the player to hold down a card on which the hold-down chip is placed such that the held-down card is unaffected by a re-deal of one or more of the plurality of face up cards; a re-deal chip that is configured to enable the player to randomly re-deal a card on which the re-deal chip may be placed, and the method may further include steps of placing, using the player activated pointing device, one of the hold-down chip and the re-deal chip on a selected one of the displayed faced up cards and carrying out a re-dealing step to one of re-deal all but the card on which the hold-down chip has been placed, and re-deal only the card on which the re-deal chip has been placed.
The method may also include a step of grouping the displayed plurality of betting chips together by denomination to form a chip palette. The method may also include a step of dynamically configuring the palette of betting chips according to a state of game play.
In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
Prior art
In contrast, embodiments of the present invention heighten the player's rewards and excitement by enabling the player to buy another spin on one or more reels that display symbols that the player does not like. In practice, the player may use this feature, for example, to “buy” another shot at a near winning (but currently losing) payline. As shown,
As shown in
While the foregoing detailed description has described several embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention. For example, the Chip Palette according to embodiments of the present invention may be configured such as to appear and disappear during game play according to, for example, the availability within the game, of events or occurrences on which the player is authorized to place bets, the sophistication of the player or the desired complexity of game play. Occasionally, the Chip Palette may include a “Comp Chip.” That is, to reward persistent players, a free chip of a selected denomination may be provided within the Chip Palette to enable the player to place a bet at no expense. Indeed, a number of modifications will no doubt occur to persons of skill in this art. All such modifications, however, should be deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method of enabling a player to play a regulated gaming machine configured as a regulated video poker game, the regulated gaming machine including a processor and a player activated pointing device, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a video poker pay table that includes a plurality of payouts for a corresponding plurality of poker hands on which the player may place a bet;
- displaying a plurality of betting chips;
- selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a first betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips;
- placing the selected first betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a first selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table;
- selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a second betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips;
- placing the selected second betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a second selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table, the second selected poker hand being different from the first selected poker hand;
- randomly dealing a plurality of cards using the processor;
- displaying at least one of the dealt plurality of cards face up;
- rewarding the player according to the selected first betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the first selected poker hand and rewarding the player according to the selected second betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the second selected poker hand.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second displaying step is carried out with the betting chips being of different denominations, wherein the first selecting step is carried out with the first betting chip being of a first denomination and wherein the second selecting step is carried out with the second betting chip being of a second denomination that is different from the first denomination.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of grouping the displayed plurality of betting chips together by denomination to form a chip palette.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of dynamically configuring the palette of betting chips according to a state of game play.
5. A method of enabling a player to play a regulated gaming machine configured as a regulated video poker game, the regulated gaming machine including a player activated pointing device and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a video poker pay table that includes a plurality of payouts for a corresponding plurality of poker hands on which the player may place a bet;
- displaying a plurality of betting chips;
- selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips;
- placing the selected betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a player-selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table before any cards are dealt;
- randomly dealing a plurality of cards using the processor;
- displaying at least one of the dealt plurality of cards face up;
- enabling the player to at least one of: place an additional bet and
- request a re-deal of at least one of the displayed face up cards according to a version of poker with which the regulated gaming machine is configured and to cause the displayed pay table to change according to at least one of the additional bet and the re-deal, and
- rewarding the player according to the selected betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the player-selected poker hand.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of grouping the displayed plurality of betting chips together by denomination to form a chip palette.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of dynamically configuring the palette of betting chips according to a state of game play.
8. A method of enabling a player to play a regulated gaming machine configured as a regulated video poker game, the regulated gaming machine including a player activated pointing device and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a video poker pay table that includes a plurality of poker hands on which the player may place a bet;
- displaying a plurality of betting chips, the displayed plurality of betting chips including at least one of a hold-down chip that is configured to enable the player to hold down a card on which the hold-down chip is placed such that the held-down card is unaffected by a re-deal of one or more of the plurality of face up cards and a re-deal chip that is configured to enable a random re-deal of a card on which the re-deal chip is placed;
- selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a first betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips;
- placing the selected first betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a first selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table;
- selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a second betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips;
- placing the selected second betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a second selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table, the second selected poker hand being different from the first selected poker hand;
- randomly dealing a plurality of cards using the processor;
- displaying at least one of the dealt plurality of cards face up;
- using the player activated pointing device, placing one of the hold-down chip and the re-deal chip on a selected one of the displayed faced up cards and carrying out a re-dealing step to one of
- re-deal all but the card on which the hold-down chip has been placed, and
- re-deal only the card on which the re-deal chip has been placed, and
- rewarding the player according to the selected first betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the first selected poker hand and rewarding the player according to the selected second betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the second selected poker hand.
9. A method of enabling a player to play a regulated gaming machine configured as a regulated video poker game, the regulated gaming machine including a player activated pointing device and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a video poker pay table that includes a plurality of poker hands on which the player may place a bet;
- displaying a plurality of betting chips, the plurality of chips including at least a hold-down chip that is configured to enable the player to hold down a card on which the hold-down chip is placed such that the held-down card is unaffected by a re-deal of one or more of the plurality of face up cards and a re-deal chip that is configured to enable the player to randomly re-deal a card on which the re-deal chip is placed;
- selecting, using the player activated pointing device, a betting chip of the displayed plurality of betting chips;
- placing the selected betting chip, using the player activated pointing device, on a player-selected poker hand of the displayed video poker pay table before any cards are dealt;
- randomly dealing a plurality of cards using the processor;
- displaying at least one of the dealt plurality of cards face up;
- placing, using the player activated pointing device, one of the hold-down chip and the re-deal chip on a selected one of the displayed faced up cards;
- enabling the player to at least one of place additional bets and request a re-deal of at least one of the displayed face up cards according to a version of poker with which the regulated gaming machine is configured, the re-deal re-dealing one of all but the card on which the hold-down chip has been placed and only the card on which the re-deal chip has been placed;
- rewarding the player according to the selected betting chip if the displayed cards collectively form the player-selected poker hand.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second displaying step is carried out with the plurality of betting chips including betting chips of different denominations, wherein the first selecting step is carried out with the first betting chip being of a first denomination and wherein the second selecting step is carried out with the second betting chip being of a second denomination that is different from the first denomination.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of grouping the displayed plurality of betting chips together by denomination to form a chip palette.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of dynamically configuring the palette of betting chips according to a state of game play.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of grouping the displayed plurality of betting chips together by denomination to form a chip palette.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of dynamically configuring the palette of betting chips according to a state of game play.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 6, 2008
Date of Patent: Oct 11, 2011
Patent Publication Number: 20080153578
Assignee: IGT (Reno, NV)
Inventors: Jean-Marie Gatto (London), Sylvie Linard (London), Thierry Brunet De Courssou (Henderson, NV)
Primary Examiner: Masud Ahmed
Attorney: Young Law Firm, P.C.
Application Number: 12/043,141
International Classification: A63F 13/00 (20060101);